Lilian's trip to Southeast Asia

21 November 2015

12:13
Victoria Peak!!!! Wow Hong Kong is awesome!!! The view from here is magnificent!! The weather is comfortable but extremely windy!!

10:18
Honk Kong exploring for the day!!!! Here we go!!!!!!!

20 November 2015

20:58
On our way back to Hong Kong, exhausted from the day but happy and grateful for the opportunity!!! Today 21,000 steps 😁 heavy walking!!!!

19:35
Walking to find a taxi with the beautiful sight of the city the light of the casino and neon everywhere.

18:31
In the fort looking over the city at night!! Macau is full of surprises

17:53
Visiting the ruins!!! Beautiful site hidden behind the streets.

17:14
In Macau!!! We saw the Grand Prix of Macau!!!! Exploring the city and finding the Portuguese heritage. The first catholic church with a virgin Mary in the altar.

16:20
Being silly!!!

14:39
Exploring Taipa before heading to Macau!!!

13:33
Exploring the casinos in Taipa!!!

13:05
Having fun in the Venetian from Far East!!!!

10:25
On our way to the Venetian from Far East, Taipa!!! Ready to check the Vegas from the East 😁😎😎😎

10:18
Starting our journey in Hong Kong and taking the ferry to Macau!!!!

19 November 2015

16:20
Last night of the cruise. Time flew...😭😩 I don't want to go back to reality... for now Hong Kong awaits 😁😎😎😎😁

11:48
My corner of the world for the day!!!! Not bad!!! Priceless 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

03:42
Our journey to Hong Kong starts now!!!! What adventures it will hold??? Will see...😁😎😎😎

18 November 2015

19:14
The end of our journey in Vietnam 😢😢😢😢. What a pleasant surprise Vietnam was. The memories are incredible and made the trip well worth it!!! I would definitely go back and spend more time immerse in the culture and history.

17:47
Our drive back to the ship passing thru Da Nang. What a vibrant city with beautiful bridges in shapes and neon lights everywhere.

16:22
The romantic vibe in the ancient city.

16:15
The original Vietnamese name of this bridge is “Lai Vien Kieu”. It is considered that the Japanese Covered Bridge belongs to the Japanese community in Hoi An, and was built in the early seventeenth century.

16:11
In the assembly hall in the ancient city Chinese cantonese site. The Quang Trieu (Cantonese) Assembly Hall, Hoi An is one of the most famous historical buildings in Hoi An, Vietnam. You will be enchanted by this architectural heritage of Vietnam.
The house was built adjacent to Cau Pagoda on 176 Tran Phu Street, on the corner of Nhi Trung Street – a gastronomic street of Hoi An . It was built in 1885 by Chinese overseas who came from Guangdong/ Cantonese (China). On the early days, the house was dedicated to Thien Hau Holy Mother, then to Quan Cong, and then to the sages who came from Guangdong Formerly. It was a place for Chinese fishermen and traders to rest temporarily and to exchange goods. In those days, there was a wharf at the front of the house.😉😉😉😍

16:06
Walking in the ancient city and enjoying the local culture, arts and crafts.

15:05
Having an amazing lunch after arriving to Hoi An and walking in the hot and humid city for an hour. The lunch spot is called Fusion Cafe and it offers everything we need at the moment, cold water, breeze, amazing food, cocktails and the enjoyment of being in an amazing city in the world.

13:18
The locals call her Buddha’s Mum or Mummy, and are so well respected that she has no particular name other than that. It is said that the Lady Buddha is protecting the city, especially fishermen from natural disasters.

13:17
Lady Buddha and the last pagoda of the mountain!

13:11
Exiting the cave and seeing more pagodas!

13:08
No words to describe the beauty of the main cave. Simplistic yet majestic... I'm not making any sense anymore...

13:05
We found the main cave 😍😍😍😍

13:04
Feeling accomplished after coming down from the mountain with a high degree of difficulty!! Beer anybody???

12:52
We reached the top of the mountain!!!! After some struggle to fit into the small openings we made it!!! And what a sight!!! What a beautiful and majestic view. I wanted to stay there for longer to absorb the moment. The good thing is that I was able to take my panoramic picture without interruptions!! Sometime the little things in life is what makes them great. Feeling engaged with gratefulness and spirituality.

12:52
Climbing our way to the top of the mountain using the secret passages from war. The small openings on the mountains were used by the Vietnamese to spy on the americans resting at China Beach a couple miles from the mountain.

12:39
Entering the cave with some difficulty. Need both hands to be able to climb and support yourself. A lot of marble rocks on the floor and the most of them wet.

12:38
On our way to the next cave.

12:25
Moving on to find the second cave with the main altar.

12:19
In the cave with the giant Buddha trying to capture the stature and the beauty of the place in a picture. Very difficult with the low level of light and the size of the place.

12:17
More pics of the cave and climbing to the altar to find more secret passages.

12:15
The entrance to one of the caves where a giant buddha statue is hidden behind the main altar. The energy felt in the cave was majestic. I've never felt so calm and at peace. Finding the beautiful sight was an amazing surprise.

12:11
One of the pagodas on the mountain with beautiful altars.

12:09
Inside one of the caves with many altars.

12:07
More pics from the Water Mountain.

12:05
Thuy Son’s four little sisters — Kim Son (metal), Moc Son (wood), Hoa Son (fire) and Tho Son (earth) — are all easily accessible from Thuy Son and offer more natural caves, grottos, tunnels and Buddhist temples. They really are worth the trek, and although it’s hard work on a hot day, there are lots of quiet shady spots for relaxing away from the crowds and getting a better picture of what makes the mountains a hugely popular pilgrimage site. Hunt hard enough and you may even find a few bullet cartridges left behind by the American and South Vietnam occupancy during the war.

12:02
Each of the mountains is named after an element. The main and most visited Thuy Son (water mountain) is the largest, with three caves and a secret ‘road to heaven’ — a steep, rocky climb through the cave to the mountain peak, where on a clear day you can see for miles all around. The show stopper though is the last cave, Am Phu, which has a huge Buddha statue set among large stone pillars and wells said to connect the mountain range to the sea.

12:00
What a sight!!! Everywhere you look is beautiful!!!

11:58
Silly faces by the tower.

11:55
Entering the park!!!

11:53
The entrance of Marble Mountain!!!! What a beautiful and unexpected surprise!! Somebody said caves in Vietnam??? we got it 😎😉😉😉😉

11:28
Our stop in the beautiful Holiday beach in Da Nang with the sight of Lady Buddha in the far mountain.

10:32
On the private taxi on our way to Hoi An!!! Exited to visit the ancient city!!

09:06
Early morning in the Port of Chan May, Vietnam!!!!

17 November 2015

17:09
Back in the ship, cruising in Vietnam from Nha Trang to the port of Hue/ Da Nang/ Hoi an.

14:02
What an amazing restaurant!!! Very happy to be able to enjoy local vietnamese food. The seafood was as fresh as you can possible imagine. The view was beautiful and the people tied it all together. What a great time!!!

13:24
The view from the altar!!!

13:24
Inside the museum that conserves the beautiful figurines!!!

13:15
Our next stop was Po Nagar Cham Towers. Each building is dedicated to hindu deities. There were originally ten but only four remain. They honor Po Nagar, Cri Cambhu, Sanhaka and Ganeca.

12:48
More pics at the top of the monument!!

12:42
We are here!!! Visiting the Big Buddha sitting on top of the lotus blossom and the monument to the six buddhist monks who died from self immolation.

12:28
Silly faces on our way to the top 150 steps to reach the big Buddha!!! Almost there!!!

12:22
Sleeping Buddha in half way thru the mountain.

12:17
Entering the Long Son Pagoda and white buddha.

12:05
Exiting the cathedral!!!

12:02
Inside the cathedral with chanting women, what an experience.

11:57
Silly faces!!!

11:55
More figurines and the wedding at the cathedral.

11:54
The apostles figurines in the cathedral wall.

11:52
The cathedral was beautiful. This was our first stop of the day!!!

11:43
Private taxi in Nha Trang, the joys of life (very spoiled).

09:08
Getting off the boat in tender was a nightmare. Getting sleepy😔

08:49
Planning my day in Nha Trang!!!

16 November 2015

08:49
Entering the city, very surprise with the cleanliness and happiness of the people. The modesty and cover of the girls are incredible even in extremely high humidity.

08:22
Driving on our private car to Ho Chi Minh about 1 hour and 20 minutes from the port.

08:22
Starting our day in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) Vietnam!!!!

14 November 2015

17:56
Selfies of the amazing sunset after a day in Cambodia. Beautiful skies!!!

12:31
The temple is beautiful, however the poverty is palpable. Little kids naked asking for money, breaks my heart. After a day in this town I can't take for granted all the work that needs to be done in order to get more resources to all corners of the world. My heart is more humbled today and I would love to be able to help more people, specially kids. What an eye opening experience. Feeling sad, grateful and humbled.

11:47
Local currency anybody???? lol

10:27
What a view!!! The day looks promising!!! I love the feeling of new adventure and cultural experiences to come.

08:16
Arriving at SIHANOUKVILLE Cambodia!!!! What a beautiful arrival by boat!

13 November 2015

15:55
Continue with the building pictures!!!

15:55
Around the world being silly with my hubby😍😍😍😍😍

15:50
The sitting buddha were people actually pray!!!

15:49
Around the world in the gardens of the Reclining Buddha monument!

15:42
Around the main building!!! What a beautiful view!! The buildings are magnificent!

15:41
Reclining buddha with silly visitors!!!!

15:38
Inside the Reclining Buddha!! Wow

14:46
Leaving the Grand Palace and our way to reclining Buddha!

14:46
Around the Grand Palace by myself!!! Feeling silly 😜

14:39
Grand palace main building!!

14:31
Grand palace!!!

14:24
Grand Palace!!

14:18
Silly faces!!!

14:16
More Grand Palace!!!!

14:15
Grand Palace with a lot of rain but happy as happy we can be. Very grateful for the experience.

14:15
Raining as crazy at the entrance of the palace. My hubby and friend had to rent pants to cover there knees!!! Kapun Ka (Thank you in Thai) for the laughs!!!

14:08
Arriving to the Grand Palace!!! WOW... all caps to describe the beauty!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😉

11:31
Even under the construction the temple is majestic, the details are absolutely mesmerizing!!! This is only the beginning of our journey in Bangkok and I'm already in love with the temples.

11:20
Arriving to the temple Wat Arun Ratchawaram!!!!😁😉

11:09
More cruising in the river...

11:07
Our cruising continue in the Chao Phraya river to arrive to Wat Arun Ratchawararam (Temple of Dawn). Beautiful temples and houses by the river... very humbling experience.

12 November 2015

20:21
Our journey in Bangkok starts with a river cruise in Chao Phraya River!!! Very high energy and happy to be able to visit the city with our friends after everything they've being thru.

17:41
Enjoying the sunset and being silly!!! Loving life and every minute of it!!! Love my crazy hubby who is always willing to do crazy adventures with me 😍❤️😍😍😍😎

17:25
Back to the boat for some sun bathing and listening to great music. Sunset, port departure and some beer... Foster's to celebrate our Aussie neighbors 😉😁😎